Bath Rugby say Butch James has been withdrawn from South Africa's clash with Wales this Saturday amid a wrangle over player release regulations.

Premier Rugby Ltd, the umbrella organisation that represents top-flight English clubs, is understood to have ordered Bath to tell James to return to his club because of its position of not allowing players to appear in matches that are not governed by the International Rugby Board's regulation on player release.

Bath chief executive Nick Blofled and team manager Dave Guyan held meetings today to discuss James' situation and this evening Blofled told the Chronicle that the South African - who is desperate to reignite his Springbok career - had been pulled from the national squad.

Asked by the Chronicle whether the club had told James he couldn't play for South Africa at the weekend, Blofeld replied: "Yes, he has been withdrawn."​

That decision would appear to place James at the centre of a tug-o'-war between Premier Rugby and the Springbok camp, who still want him to play at the Millennium Stadium.

Premier Rugby have said they will report South Africa to the IRB if James is not released back to his club.

"The situation on release of international players for the June window is clear under IRB Regulation 9," said a Premier Rugby spokesman.

"The release of players is required for matches on the second, third and fourth weekends of June and for five clear training days in advance. This release is intended for matches being played in the Southern Hemisphere.

"The first weekend in June is not part of the IRB release period and unions have no right to release of players from the clubs.

"In the interests of player welfare, which the IRB Working Accord made the top priority, this first weekend was intended under the regulation to be a period of travel for the players so they would be in best condition for the June tests in the southern hemisphere.

"This now appears to be compromised by international matches being arranged in the Northern Hemisphere for apparently commercial reasons."

The dispute has arisen today despite James having been selected ten days ago and his name having been linked to selection for months.

The bath chronicle

1/06/2010